Caster-wheel



C. H. CLARK.

CASTER WHEEL.

APPLICATION man JUNE 9, 1920.

1,395,257. Patented Nov. 1,1921.

CHARLES H. CLARK, OF EASTOIF, MAINE.

CASHIER-WHEEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 1, 1921.

Application filed June 9, 1920. Serial No. 387,706.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. CLARK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Easton, in the county of Aroostook and State 'of Maine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in CasterWVheels, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object the pro vision of simple and inexpensive means which may readily be applied to the agricultural machine disclosed in Letters Patent No. 1,266,918, granted to me May 21, 1918, and effectually relieve the team of the weight of the pole or tongue. The inven tion seeks to provide a caster wheel which will turn freely as the machine is moved from side to side and which will automatically assume a position in which the point of contact between the wheel and the ground will be in rear of the connection of the wheel with the frame whether the machine is being drawn forwardly or rearwardly.

The stated objects of the invention and such other objects as will incidentally appear in the course of the following description are attained in such a device as is illustrated in the accompanying drawings and the invention resides in certain novel features which will be particularly pointed out in the claims following the description.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a plan view of a portion of the frame of a machine having my improved caster wheel applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly broken away, showing the position of the wheel when the machine is being drawn forwardly;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the wheel in the position it assiunes when the team backs.

In the drawings, the reference numeral 1 indicates the main longitudinal draft beam of a machine and 2 a cross beam secured to the draft beam, while 3 indicates side bars secured to said cross beam and extending rearwardly to brace the rear end of the frame. A whiliietree or draw bar 4 is secured to the under side of the draft beam 1 as will be readily understood.

In carrying out my present invention, I employ a spindle 5 which may be rotatably fitted in a sleeve or tube 6 disposed vertically below the front end of the draft beam 1 and supported by a clamping collar 7 which is carried by the lower end of braces 8 and 9,

the cross beam 2 and The braces 8 are secured at their upper ends to the cross beam 2 near the ends thereof and the lower ends merge into or are rigid with the clamping ring or collar 17, while the brace 9 is disposed in the medial longitudinal plane of the machine, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1, and extends between the clamping ring or collar 7 as will be readilv understood. The upper end of the tube 6 bears against a combined wear and supporting plate 10 which is secured to the under side of the draft beam and the tube thereby aids in supporting the draft beam. A ring or collar 11 is secured upon the spindle 5 immediately below the clamping ring 7 and bears against the same so that the weight of the front end of the machine will be transmitted to the spindle. The spindle is free to rotate in the tube 6 and the clamping ring and its upper end projects through and above the draft beam, as clearly shown. If so desired, journal boxes may be fitted in the front end of the draft beam 1 and within the clamping ring or collar 7 so as to reduce the wear upon the parts and facilitate the rotation of the spindle. Below the collar 11, the spindle is bent laterally at a right angle to its main portion, as shown at 12, and its lateral portion 12 is of sufficient extent to clear the wheel 13 when the parts are all assembled and in use. From the outer end of the lateral branch 12, the spindle is carried downwardly in an oblique direction, as shown at 14, and its extremity is then turned laterally to form an axle 15 which is disposed parallel with the branch 12 and upon which the wheel 13 is mounted. This axle 15 should be of considerable extent and stop collars 16 are secured upon the axleadjacent the opposite sides of the hub of the wheel so as to prevent the wheel moving laterally upon the axle but permit its free rotation.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be seen that I have provided an exceedingly simple device which may be readily applied to the frame of a two-row culti vator or other agricultural machine and effectually carry the weight of the forward portion of the machine. The vertical spindle may rotate freely in its tubular support and inasmuch as the lower offset portion of position in rear of the spindle in the direction of movement of the machine. The wheel will thus always be following the line of draft and will not be opposed to the propelling force so that it will not tend to dig into the ground nor to cause the frame of the machine to rise but will roll easily over the surface and will carry the weight of the machine without any undue vibration thereof. The tubular support for the spindle guards the same against bending or breaking and also serves to transmit the weight of the frame to the spindle and axle. Should it be necessary for any reason to repair or renew the wheel it may be very easily and quickly removed from the axle as all that is needed is to remove the outer stop collar 16, after which the wheel may be slipped from the axle. The repairs can thus be made without dismounting the entire machine so that the period in which the machine will be idle is minimized.

rotatable in said tube,

'erally offset connection the lower end of thespindle below said col- Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

The combination with a draft beam, and a cross beam secured thereto, of a wear plate secured to the under side of the draft beam in advance of the cross beam, a vertically disposed tube bearing at its upper end against the said wear plate, braces secured to the cross beam at the center and at the ends thereof and converging downwardly therefrom a clamp carried by the lower ends of the brace and securing the lower end of said tube, a spindle extending through and freely a stop collar on the spindle immediately below the lower end of the tube, an axle, an obliquely disposed latbetween the axle and lar, and a wheel mounted upon said axle.

In testlmony whereof I aihr; my signature.

CHARLES H. CLARK. he 

